Child education throughout history and European governesses in child education in the Ottoman period

It has been seen that children's education has always been given importance since ancient times. Societies that needed warrior generations in ancient and medieval times felt the need to educate their children in the military field. Ower time, educational institutions have been opened for children who will become the adults of tomorrow in order to ensure the sustainability of the state and to create better living conditions. Scientific and vocational trainings were given in these institutions. However, in all civilizations, child education started within the family. Parents, who see themselves as inadequate in raising chidren, hired private trainers to raise their children. These people, who are known by different names in every society; It was called paidagogos in ancient Greece and custos in Rome. In the Ottoman Empire, these people were mostly called governer and governesses. Governesses are female employees who are hired to support families and take care of both the education and care of children. These people were seen with more westernization in the Ottoman Empire. Families with good financial status have hired these people for their children. They mostly worked in the mansions and mansions of wealthy families. Especially families trying to keep up with western life, should have their children educated in a European style; It is seen that they prefer European governesses to learn a foreing language, etiguette and playing a western style musical instrument. In addition, the number of European governesses continued to increase day by day, and these people spread to the social sphere. Therefore, the activities of the governesses overflowed from the houses and made itself felt in the social life. In this study, the historical development of child education, what European governesses taught children, and how they followed this education were discussed. We examined the effects of European governesses, who entered the Muslim-Turkish family structure, on child and family. At the same time, we investigated what kind of positive or negative differences and transformations it creates on children who will become adults in the future. In our study, we also evaluated different views on whether these people whom we entrust children with are the right choice or the wrong choice. There are limited resources on governesses. Writers such as Ahmet Koçak, Zeynep Şen, Dilek Ceran, Ayşe Sıdıka Hanım conducted research on governesses. However, these studies were mostly done on governesses; No one other then Ahmet Koçak made a distinction about governesses as Europeans. We wanted to make up for this deficiency as best we could and do the best for the children who will be the future of our country. In this study, a modest contribution to the literature on European, governesses, one of the private trainers, was made and despite its shortcomings, it was asked to form a starting point for further studies. Qualitative research method was used in our study. Presidency Ottoman Archive and ISAM were used. At the same time, boks, periodicals, newspapers, novels, encyclopedias, foreing works and internet resources were used. In addition, the memories of people from the Republican period were also used. Pictures and photographs were also used to enrich the thesis.